String ticket attaching device



Dec. 15, 1936. c. A. FLOOD STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3l, 1953 fg. j. JZ 76,

Dec. 15, 1936. c. A. FLOOD STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Inverzzaf' 'C/afZ ALF 00 Dec. l5, 1936. c. A, FLOOD n 2,063,917

STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 rif Filed Oct. 3l, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 r, 7. W mM/fw. my v M %v/.,Y f JA W Z w M W o M W 2 M, a 7 lz 2,70. w W 0J n w www \/w Filed Oct. 31, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 15, 1936. c. vA. FLOOD STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 3l, 1933 2s Le@ Inverzw; Carl Dec. l5, 1936. c. A. FLOOD STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 W Atys.

C. A. FLOOD Filed Oct. 3l, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 In verz tor, arZ A MM Dec. l5, 1936.

STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE Dec. l5, 1936. c. A. FLOOD STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 3l, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 M+ Att s.,

Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE STRING TICKET ATTACHING DEVICE Application October 31, 1933, Serial No. 696,017

28 Claims.

This invention relates to attaching materials or articles of the kind having a construction, composition and/or texture of such a character that they may be impaled or pierced as by passing a needle or similar instrument therethrough between surface portions or from one side to the other thereof, or by passing such instrument around or about portions of the article or material, which materials or articles have sufficient strength to be capable of retaining at least temporarily a flexible strand passing about or through portions thereof. Some materials of a comparatively dense compact composition may have relatively thin portions through Which a needle may be readily passed while others may have openings adapted to receive a needle. Various articles of mechandise commonly have these characteristics, such for example as pieces f jewelry, textile materials including fabrics, garments and other articles of wearing apparel, also sheet materials whether woven or of irregularly matted brous construction; these are therefore representative of this general class of materials.

Prior methods of attaching string tags do not afford adequate protection against tampering or unauthorized transfer of tags. Moreover these prior methods have been uneconomical of string or other strand material employed. For instance, it is customary to use a tag which has been previously strung. The'string may be threaded through a hole in the tag and the ends tied together to form a continuous loop or the ends of the string may be passed between the plies of the ticket to form a closed loop. Such a tag is usually attached to an article by looping it through or over some suitable portion of the article such as through a buttonhole of a garment or over a button. Sometimes a hooked needle is used to pull the string through a portion of the fabric and then the tag is threaded through the loop formed by the string which has passed through the fabric. In all of these instances the string must be long enough to form a loop of such size that the tag may pass through it. Also the tag may be easily removed or shifted to another article by reversing the process.

This invention provides for attaching price tags to material and is also useful for attaching mated articles such for example as a pair of stockings or a pair of gloves. In some aspects the invention pertains to a method and to a device for passing a iiexible strand, as a cord or string through' a ticket and an article and uniting portions of the strand to form a closed loop which secures the ticket to the article. While such a device may assume various forms it is highly desirable that it should be of such compact and eiiicient construction that it is not only portable, but may be conveniently carried in and operated by one hand of an operator while the other hand is left free to manipulate materials or articles to be ticketed. This requires a construction and relative arrangement of parts which in addition to providing for eflcient mechanical operation, also produces a good balance and thus contributes to ecient use. Moreover it is frequently advantageous to be able to attach price tickets in such a Way that they may be easily removed by a purchaser and yet the unauthorized transfer of a, ticket from one article to another will become apparent immediately upon inspection. The present invention provides for accomplishing this objective by attaching the ticket with a loop of strand material which' loop is formed by clenching about the end portions of the strand a clip which is so small especially when clenched that it can not be removed Without special tools. The clip may be formed of metal which is capable of bending as required during the clenching operation and yet so brittle that if any attempt is made to spread the clenched clip to remove it, it will break. On the other hand anyone authorized to remove the tag may do so easily by cutting the strand.

Objects of the invention are to improve the art of attaching tickets by providing methods and means for attaining the aforementioned desirable objectives; to provide for attaching tags and the like to articles by means of a flexible strand in a manner which will not require the separate operations of rst stringing the tag and then the subsequent operation of attaching it to an article but will simultaneously insert the string through both the tag and the article; to provide for securely attaching a tag or the like with a loop which need not be long enough to permit the tag to pass through it; and also to provide a device for these purposes having an improved construction and relative arrangement of parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device for attaching tickets to material;

Fig. 2 is a left-hand elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right-hand elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View, to an enlarged scale, of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a strip of fastening elements;

Fig. 7 is a. pan view iuustraung a ticket attached to a piece of fabric;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 5, showing the operating handle in raised position;

Fig. 10 is a section along the line Ill-l0 of Ong the 1in clenching die H`H of Fig. 12a is an enlarged enllged section similar to Fig. 9 With the parts 1n different relative positions;

Fig. i4 is a section on the line |4|4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a left-hand elevational View, with parts broken away, and showing the parts in different relative positions;

Fig. 16 is a section similar to Fig. 11 with the parts in different relative positions;

Fig. 17 is a section on the line I1--I1 of Fig. 16 illustrating the relative position of the parts as a fastening element or clip is clenched;

Fig. 18 is a section similar to Fig. 9 but showing the parts in different relative positions;

Figs. 19 and 20 are detail sectional views similar to Fig. 16 and illustrating the parts in different relative positions to show the manner in which the fastening elements are clenched and separated from their supply strip;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating a relative position of the needle and of the strand catching and retaining device;

Fig. 22 is a section on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Figs. 23 and 25 are sections similar to Fig. 21, but showing the parts in different relative positions;

Figs. 24 and 26 are views similar to Fig. 22 but showing the parts in positions corresponding to those shown in Figs. 23 and 25, respectively;

Fig. 27 is a side elevation, with parts omitted and broken away, of a device similar to the one illustrated in the preceding figures, but embodying automatic means for shifting the slide or .i5 latch plate;

Fig. 27a is a plan view of the front or forward portion of the slide or latch plate of the device shown in Fig. 27;

Figs. 28, 29 and 30 are fragmentary side elevations similar to Fig. 27 but showing the parts in different relative positions;

Fig. 31 is a top plan view of an attaching device similar to the devices illustrated in the preceding figures, but embodying a knot tying mechanism for uniting portions of the strand;

Fig. 32 is a left-hand side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 is a right-hand side elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the device shown in Figs. 31 and G0 32 with parts omitted and broken away; and

Figs. 33HL and 33b are detail views illustrating in left-hand elevation parts of the knot tying mechanism of Figs. 31 to 33 in different relative positions.

The device selected for illustration in Figs. 1 to 26 of the drawings comprises a frame, indicated generally at Ill, and formed of right and left mating parts I I and I2 shaped to extend rearwardly so as to provide a hollow handle grip I3, the forward portion of the frame extending vertically in the form of a rectangular post I4. This post has a slideway which conveniently may be formed in one of the mating parts, as in the left-hand part I I, as indicated at I6, this slideway being adapted to receive and guide a needle slide The @wer end tragitti; snrissee lise-e 1 Verse web of this chanrel bleiilllagc'ltevatnrsie lower surface of the post I4 to form therewith a guide passage or channel for a reciprocatory 15 clenching die plate 21 (Figs. 11 and 12). At its forward lower end the post I4 is tted with a clenching die block 28 having a curved channel or guideway 29 for delivering clips to the clenching die. Forwardly of the channel 29 the die block is 20 provided with a groove 25 (Fig. 5) having convex side walls which diverge outwardly to form a flaring guideway for directing strands into the channel 29.

This clenching die block has a downwardly ex- 25 tending lug or projection 3I (Figs. 11, 12, 12a, 16,

19 and 20) which extends through a slot 32 in the clenching die plate 21 and into a slot 30 in the base of the channel member 26. The slot 32 is of a length to permit the desired reciprocatory move- 30 ment of the clenching die plate 21. The forward end of this slot is adapted to function as an anvil surface for clenching a clip about pieces of strand material, such as string or the like. This forward end portion of the slot joins a narrower slot 33 35 providing an entrance through which the string to be clipped may be introduced. Preferably the forward end portion of the plate 21 is formed to diverge from the narrow slot 33 to provide guide surfaces 34 for directing strands into the slot 33. 40 Below the plate 21 the forward edge of the projection 3| is cut away or beveled at 35 to provide clearance for removal of clenched clips. The forward end of the slot 30 is located so close to the projection 3| that an unclenched clip can not pass 45 through this slot as the material forming the slot projects inwardly and forms shoulders or abutments 40 which effectively engage the legs of unclenched clips. These shoulders or abutments-40 serve as stops which due to this engagement de- 50 termine the position of an unclenched clip. The forward end of slot 30 joins a slot 33 which is similar to, although wider than slot 33 in plate 21. The base of the channel member 26 is cut away from slot 33 along lines 34 which diverge 55 preferably from a point inwardly of that from which lines 34 diverge even when the movable plate 21 occupies its extreme right-hand position as shown in Fig. 16. The die block 28 is secured between the flanges of the channel member 26 60 by suitable fastening elements, such as the screws 36 (Fig. 2) and the channel-shaped member 26 is secured to the lower end portion of the post I4 by similar fastening elements 31.

Clips are supplied in strip form to the clench- 65 ing die through a chute or enclosed channel 38, which extends through the hollow handle I 3 from a suitable reel or spool 45' or other source of supply.

Preferably the handle I3 is equipped at its rear- 70 ward extremity with a magazine 39, which may be substantially cylindrical and which may be separated by a partition member 4I into a compartment 42 for flexible strand material, and a compartment 43 for a reel of clip elements. A 75 post 44 may be mounted in this partition member 4I and arranged to extend through these compartments to provide a support for the reel in each compartment. Conveniently these chambers or compartments 42 and 43 may be in the form of substantially cylindrical closure members having their end walls apertured to t over the post 44 and equipped with pivotal latch members 9 which are receivable in grooves (not shown) in the post for releasably retaining the closure members in position. This partition member 4| may extend forwardly beyond the magazine and beneath the handle I3 in the form of a web having a lower edge 46 constituting an abutment, and the forwardly extending portion of this partition may be secured between the adjacent mating portions of the handle I3 as by means of an attaching screw 41, which secures these portions of the handle and partition together.

A spool 45 of flexible strand material, such as string, may be mounted upon post 44 in compartment 42, and the strand may be threaded through an arcuate thread guide 48 on the handle I3, and over a spring tension gui-ding device 49 on Athe head I8 of the needle slide from which the strand may be threaded through the needle.

An operating member or lower handle 5I (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided'with a forked or bifurcated forward end, the furcations of which embrace the channel-shaped member 26 and are mounted to pivot on a pivot screw 52, which extends through and is carried by the lower portion of the post I4. A bell-crank in the form of a latch member 53 is mounted on this same pivot, with sufficient friction so as to remain in various positions to which it may be moved. A link 54 is pvotally connected to the upwardly extending arm of the bell-crank 53, and this link carries at its forward end a transversely disposed cutter or knife 55. A bracket 51 mounted on the forward side of the post I4 extends forwardly above and closely a-djacent to the knife or cutter bar 56. This bracket is equipped with a flat spring 58, which is bent downwardly and. rearwardly to engage and bear against the under surface of the cutter bar 58, for the purpose of holding this cutter bar snugly against the under surface of the laterally projecting portion 55 of the bracket 51. This 'laterally projecting portion 55 of the bracket is provided with a hole 59 (Fig. 18) to permit the needle to pass freely through this bracket. s

A lever arm 6I (Fig. 11) is mounted to pivot on the pin 52 and carries a lower projection 62 which ts within a similarly shaped hole or recess 63 in the reciprocatory clenching plate 21. This arm 6I is provided at its rearward end with a rectangular notch 84. A presser foot 66 is mounted to pivot on a pin 65 on the right-hand side of the device, as shown in Fig. 3. This presser foot is in the form of a curve-d lever having a transversely extending portion 61 adapted to engage and compress material. The lower portion of the lever below the pivot carries a pin 68 which projects inwardly into a recess in the frame. As shown in Fig. 11, the lower portion of the post I4 is provided with a transverse bore or passage 69, and a coil spring 1| is disposed in this passage and bears against the adjacent end surface of the clenching block 28, an-d also bears against a headed pin 12 which engages the pin 68 carried by the curved lever 66 ofthe presser foot. These parts'are so arranged that the spring 1I tends normally to rotate the presser foot and its engaging vsurface 81 in a'clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. The `lower portion of the postI4 is inclined downwardly to provide av surface or bed 13 (Fig. 11) to receive superposed pieces of material, and the presser foot serves to clamp such pieces of material against the surface 13.

Mechanism for operating the cutter 56, the presser foot 66 and the needle slide I1, com? prises a pair of levers 14 and 16 mounted to pivot on a pin (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), these levers being spaced from each other by a spa-cer member 11, which is rigidly secured to both levers by attaching elements 18 so as to prevent relative movement of the levers. The forward end of the lever 14 has a round extremity which ,-ts within the transverse recess 22 of needle slide I8. The forward end of lever 16 is pivotally connected to a link 19 (Fig. 3) which extends to the presser foot lever 66. This presser foot lever carries a lug having a transversely disposed head 8|, the shank of this lug being disposed within a slot 82 formed in the forward end of the link. These parts are so constructed and arranged that when the lever 5I is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the link 19 engages the presser foot lever 66 through the medium of the lug 8l, and holds this presser foot retracted or spaced above the opposing material-receiving surface 13 of the post I4.

A link 83 (Fig. 2) is pivotally connected to the upper arm of the bell-crank latch member 53 and to the cutter bar link 54 by the pin 84. The free end of this link is slotted to receive a pin 86 carried by the lever 14 (Fig. 2), this pin and slot connection being so proportioned and arranged as to move the pin 84 and the cutter bar link 54 forwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, as the lever 14 is moved in a counterclockwise direction. This pin and slot connection 86 is also proportioned to maintain the pin in the slot of the link 83 as the lever 14 returns to the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit the lever 14 to return to this position without actuating the cutter bar link 54. The lever 5I is yieldably urged to return to the position which it occupies in Figs. 2 and 3 by means of a retracting spring 81, which is connected to a hooklike projection 88 formed on the lever 16, and to a pin 89 mounted upon the forward end of the lever 5I, as shown in Fig. 3.

The clenching die operating lever 6I (Fig. 11) is connected by a link 9I with a bell-crank lever 92 (Fig. 2) which is mounted. to pivot on the screw 93 carried by the post I4. The lower arm of this bell-crank lever 92 is adapted to engage the upwardly extending arm'of the bell-crank latch member 53 when these parts occupy certain relative positions (Fig. 15).

The clenching die block 28, (Figs. 2 and 11) is provided with a vertical passage 96 which is disposed to one side of the clip-guiding channel 29, the passage 96 being in alignment with 'and adapted to receive the needle I9. This passage also extends laterally from the path of the needle to the adjacent side flange of channel member 26 (Fig. 14). At the upper end of passage 96 the die block is provided with a V- shaped notch 8 which is disposed adjacentthe groove 25 so that strands held in passage 9'6 may be drawn taut through this notch and into groove 25 and the clip-guiding channel 29. The lower portion of the frame post I4 is provided with a transverse recess to receive a reciprocatory strand catcher and gripper element 91 (Fig. 9). This element is in the form of a rectangular plate or bar which extends longitudinally of the device and carries a pin 98 which extends laterally from both sides of the gripper element. On the left side of the device this pin extends through a slot 99 in the adjacent flange of the channel-shaped member 26, this pin being adapted to be engaged by the lower arm of the bell-crank latch member 53. The plate member 91 (Figs. 9 and 13) is provided with a longitudinal recess adapted to receive a spring 98 which bears against one end of the recess and against the frame surface 99 so as to tend normally to urge the gripper plate 91 to the left as viewed in Figs. 9 and 13. The upper forward end of this gripper plate carries a projecting lug or loop catcher (Fig. 13). The gripper plate 91 is also provided with a slot |02 to receive the frame attaching element 31 (Fig. 2) and to provide for freedom of movement of this gripper plate with respect to the element 31. This gripper plate 91 is disposed adjacent and to one side of the path of the needle I9 as shown in Fig. 10 and the forward vertical edge |03 of this plate is arranged to be parallel with the opposing vertical edge |04 of the clenching block 28 for clamping strand material against the latter edge.

The lower, pivotally mounted handle 5| is provided with a longitudinal recess |06 (Figs. 3 and l5) and a reciprocatory slide or latch plate |01 is mounted on the upper side of this handle above the recess 06. A suitable attaching element such as a screw |08 is secured to the handle 5| and extends through a slot |09 in the slide |01 for securing the latter to the handle 5|. The slide |01 carries a pin ||0, which projects downwardly into the recess |06 where a spring seats against the pin ||0 and against the end of the recess |06 so as to tend normally to urge the slide plate |01 rearwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. 3. This slide plate carries a forwardly and laterally extending grip plate ||2 (Figs. 1 and 2) to provide for convenient manual operation of this slide plate. When the slide plate occupies its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, the rearward end of this plate closes a vertical passage ||3 through the handle 5|. A post 4 is mounted to pivot on a transverse pin ||6 secure-d to the rearward ends of the levers 14 and 16. The forward end of the latch plate |01 is receivable within the rectangular notch 64 of the clencher die plate actuating lever 6|. The lever 5| also carries at its rearward end an adjustable stop in the form of a screw ||1 which is adapted'to engage the superposed abutment 46 provided by the forwardly extending web portion of the partition member 4|. Engagement of the screw |1 and the abutment 46 serves to limit upward movement of the lever 5|.

Preferably the strand attaching elements for use with this device are supplied in the form of substantially U-shaped metallic staples or clips ||8 (Fig. 6) which are similarly disposed along a narrow strip or ribbon of severable sheet material I I9, such as paper, to which the clips may be secured by a coating of adhesive |2|. The paper provides a flexible connection between the clips and thus makes it possible to wind the connected clips on a spool or reel and to deliver such clips through irregular or curved passages. As the paper strip which forms this connection is easily torn, the individual clips may be readily separated and the paper remaining on each clip after separation from the strip provides a soft pad against which flexible strand elements |22 (Fig. 8) may be pressed and into which such strand elements may be substantially embedded and thereby effectively secured by the legs or prongs of each clip during the clenching operation Without danger of severing such strand elements between sharp metallic edges on the prongs and on the back or base portion which connects these prongs and toward which the prongs are bent when clenched.

Preferably these clips are formed of material which is capable of bending suciently to undergo the clenching operation without rupture and which is brittle enough to break when an attempt is made to spread a clenched clip to loosen the strand disposed therein. This effectively prevents unauthorized transfer of tags from one article to another as well as the unauthorized attachment of a tag to any article since unauthorized persons will have neither the clips nor the means of attaching them.

Moreover, irrespective of whether these fastening elements or clips have this peculiar characterstic, after being clenched, of sufficient brittleness to break before separating, it is preferred that the individual clips should be comparatively minute when clenched and preferably so small in size that when a clenched clip is held securely between the thumb and forenger of a mans hand the clip can not be grasped securely between the thumb and forenger of the left hand without releasing the grip of the right hand. It is found that when clips are of these small proportions it is practically impossible to open a clenched clip without the aid of tools which are especially adapted for this work and such tools would not ordinarily be in the possession of unauthorized persons. Furthermore it is believed that the use of clips so difficult to remove especially Where the removal requires great care and something more than ordinary aptitude in the use of special tools, will effectively discourage tampering with price tags.

The device described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 20 is intended to be held in and operated by the right hand of an operator, while materials to be attached, such as a price tag or ticket and a piece of fabric are supplied to and removed from the device with the left hand. In using this device the palm of the right hand is placed across the upper handle |3 with the thumb of this hand extending downwardly along the left side of the device (the side illustrated in Fig. 2) in a position conveniently to engage the laterally extending grip plate |2 of the slide or latch plate |01. The fingers of the right hand are extended downwardly along the right side of the device (the side illustrated in Fig. 3) and about the movable handle or operating member 5| to grip the latter for imparting a necessary motion to this handle. With the device held in this manner the materials or articles to be attached, such as a marking tag or ticket T and a piece of fabric F, are arranged in superposed relation, preferably with the ticket uppermost, and placed upon the supporting surface or bed 13, as illustrated in Fig. 11. It will be understood that as the fabric and the ticket are placed in this position the parts are in the relative positions illustrated in Figs. l to 5. The movable handle or operating member 5I is then moved upwardly Without disturbing the position of the grip plate ||2 or its associated slide or latch plate |01 so that as the handle 5| is advanced upwardly the slide or latch plate |01 projects across the passage ||3 (Fig. 3) and provides an abutment or support for the post I|4. This upward movement of the handle, therefore, is imparted through the post ||4 to the levers 14 and 16 and no movement is imparted to the lever arm `6I As the lever 14 swings about its pivot in a. counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 9, the needle slide I1, due to its connection with the forward end of this lever, is moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 9. 'Ihis same movement of the handle 5| causes the lever 16 to move in a similar manner and at the beginning of the movement of this lever the link 19 is advanced from the position shown in Fig. 3 to permit the presser foot arm 66 to be swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, by its actuating spring 1| (Fig. 1l). The parts are so proportioned and arranged that the presser foot arm is released sufficiently by the link 19 to swing to the position shown in Fig. 1l, wherein the transversely disposed arm or foot proper 61 engages the superposed sheets of material and presses them firmly against the supporting surface or bed 13, as shown in Fig. 1l, before the needle slide has descended far enough to cause the needle to pierce the sheets of material. These sheets, therefore, are firmly held in position when they are rst engaged by the descending needle I9. Also at the beginning of the downward movement of the needle slide the knife or cutter 56 is moved from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to the position shown in Fig. 9 in which it will be noted that the knife has been moved forwardly sufficiently to clear hole 59 in bracket 51 and to be out of the path of the descending needle. This movement of the knife is effected by the link 83 which is connected between the lever 14 and the link 54 which actuates the knife. As the needle slide continues its downward movement, the needle I9 passes through the hole 59 in the bracket 51 and pierces the ticket T and fabric F, as shown in Fig. 9, and passes downwardly into the passage 96. Approximately as the needle enters the passage 96 the cam surface 23 of the needle slide engages the portion of pin 98 which extends on the right side of the gripper plate 91 and this continued downward movement, therefore, is effective due to this engagement, to move the gripper plate 91 substantially to the position shown in Fig. 9 in which the forward end of this gripper plate and its projecting lug or loop catcher |I is retracted to the rear of the path of the needle and the strand carried thereby. The movable handle or operating member is then released and allowed to return to the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 13 and is caused to return to this position by the retracting spring 81. During this returning movement of the handle the retractile spring 81 through its connection with the levers 14 and 16 is effective to move the needle slide upwardly to the position of Figs. 2 and 3 and at the beginning of this upward movement it Will be seen that the cam surface 23 permits the gripper plate to move forwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 9, and as the handle returns toward its normal position the presser foot arm 66 is retracted against the action of its actuating spring 1I due to the connection of the arm 66 with the lever 16.

The action of the gripper plate 91 is illustrated in Figs. 21 to 26. Figs. 21 and 22 show the relative position of the parts when the needle is at the limit of its downward movement. As the needle slide moves upwardly (Figs. 23 and 24) the strand S Carried by the needle is held suiiiciently `by engagement with the fabric and the ticket to cause a loop L to be thrown into the path of the gripper plate as illustrated in Fig. 24 and at this point the forwardly projecting lug or loop catcher IDI of the gripper plate 91 has advanced slightly within the loop thus formed. In Figs. 24 and 25 the needle has been withdrawn from the ticket and the fabric, the pin 98 has been released by the cam surface 23 and the -gripper bar 91 has been moved by its spring to the left, as viewed in Fig. 25, to a position in which the loop catcher IDI projects entirely through the loop L and into a recess |00 while the forward surface |93 of the gripper plate 91 firmly engages and presses the loop L against the opposing surface |94 so that the loop is firmly held in the position shown in Figs. 25 and 26.

In attaching tags to articles of jewelry, hardware, and the like, as for example, in securing a ticket about the bail of a pail, if the ticket has a hole to receive the needle and the strand there may be substantially no resistance to withdrawal of the strand as the needle is withdrawn. In such cases the loop L may be considerably narrower, but there will always be a portion of the strand of this loop in the path of the gripper element 91 so that the latter will function to retain the strand.

While it is not necessary to the operation of this device it is preferred to use a needle I9 of the type having a relatively long straight groove |92L leading from the eye of the needle along the shank on the side thereof to which the strand is carried from the tension device 49 while the opposite side of the needle is provided with a comparatively short groove I9b which is not long enough to receive the strand on this side of the needle at the point where the latter passes through the ticket and fabric when the needle is at the limit of its downward stroke as illustrated in Fig. 9. The strand at this point therefore is pinched or squeezed against the needle by the material of the ticket and fabric and as the needle is withdrawn this portion of the strand is effectively held by its engagement with the ticket and fabric so that the smooth shank of the needle easily slides by it. This assists in forming the loop which is caught by. the loop catcher IOI of the gripper bar. The short groove I9b receives the strand as the needle is piercing the ticket and fabric and thus functions definitely to locate or position this portion of the strand and also to make it easier to pierce the ticket and fabric.

In the next operation the operator grasps the ticket T and fabric F and draws it outwardly away from or transversely of the path of the needle and in so doing causes the strand S to be drawn through the needle. The portion of the strand extending below the ticket and fabric to passage 96 is drawn into the V-shaped notch 8. This forms a loop L', Fig. 15, extending through the ticket T and the fabric F. In drawing out the strand to form this loop the hole 59 in bracket 51 serves as a guide which relieves the needle of lateral strain. The loop L is drawn into the converging ways provided by the groove 25 and the surfaces 34 of the clenching die plate 21 which direct this loop through the narrow slot 33 into the forward end of the larger slot 32.

At this time the lowermost clip has descended from the clip channel 29 into the slot 32 of the clenching die plate 21 with the prongs or legs of the clip extending forwardly and disposed solidly against the shoulders or abutments 40. As the loop L is drawn through the narrow slot 33 into the larger slot 30 the strands of the loop are positioned within the prongs of the clip which rests against abutments 40.

In order to unite the ends of the loop the ticket and fabric are held below the device in a manner to draw taut the strands of the loop as illustrated in Fig. 18. The operator then presses the grip plate H2 forwardly and in so doing moves the slide or latch bar |01 forwardly so that it no longer obstructs passage H3 and therefore leaves the post H4 free to pass through this passage in the handle. However, this forward movement of the latch plate brings its front portion into the rectangular notch 64 in arm 6|, and thereby effects a rigid connection between these parts (Figs. 15 and 16). Upward movement of the handle therefore does not actuate levers 14 and I6 but does move arm 6| upwardly. This arm through the link 9| swings bell-crank 92 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 15, so that the lower arm of this bell-crank engages the upper arm of bell-crank 53 and moves the latter clockwise and thereby moves link 54 and cutter 56 to the right, as viewed in Fig. l5. This movement brings the cutter across hole 59 in bracket 51 and severs the strand. This same movement of the lower bell-crank 53 also releases the strand which up to this time has been held by the gripper bar. The lower arm of bellcrank 53 functions as a latch or cam and is formed with an upwardly extending extremity or toe 53 which provides a cam surface adapted on upward movement to engage and retract pin 98 which is carried by the gripper bar 91. It will be seen that this retracts the gripper bar to the position shown in Fig. 21 in which the strand is released. Preferably the parts just described are so proportioned and arranged that the strand is cut bythe knife 56 just before the lower end of the strand is released by the gripper bar.

The same upward movement of handle 5| unites the ends of loop L by clenching a clip about these portions of the str-and. From Figs. 11 and 16 it will be seen that as the handle 5| and arm 6| move upwardly the clenching die plate 21 is moved rearwardly by the lug 62 of arm 6|. The plate 21 moves from the position shown in Fig. 12a to that shown in Fig. 17 and during this movement the end portions of slot 32 engage the prongs of the clip H8 and clench these prongs firmly about the strands of the loop L. The handle 5| and grip plate H2 are then released and the parts return to the positions shown in Fig. 18 in which it will be noted that the slide |01 has been returned by spring IH to a position beneath the post H4 ready to actuate the levers 14 and 16 on the next operation. To detach the clenched clip from the next adjacent unclenched clip in the supply channel it is only necessary to pull the loop L' downwardly rather sharply. The clenched clip passes freely through the end portion of slot 30 in the channel member 26 (Fig. 19) while the impact of the prongs of the unclenched clip against the abutments 40 (Fig. 20) is suflcient to tear or break the paper connecting these clips and also serves definitely and accurately to position the unclenched clip for the next clenching operation. When the fabric and ticket are removed from the device they are secured together by the strands of the loop L' which are rmly attached by the clenched clip.

The paper which remains within the clenched clip serves a very useful purpose. During the clenching operation the clip rests solidly against the die block 3| and the prongs must be brought to bear against the strands of the loop with suiicient pressure to prevent these strands from slipping after the clip is clenched. Without this paper or similar backing it would be very diiicult and probably impracticable to attempt to secure this necessary pressure engagement without causing the prongs at least partially to sever the strands against the back of the clip. The paper, however, forms a protective pad which makes it possible to secure a good grip on the strands without requiring great precision in the clenching operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device thus far described herein operates in two cycles. During the rst cycle the ticket and fabric are yieldably gripped by the presser foot under the action of the spring 1| which automatically compensates for variations in thickness of material. The needle pierces the ticket and fabric and is withdrawn and the strand is caught and held by the gripper bar. During the next cycle the loop L is formed and its ends are united by clenching a. clip about its strands, the lower end of the strand forming the loop is released by the gripper bar while the upper end thereof is severed adjacent the needle. The clenched clip is then detached from the series of clips by severing the connecting paper strip. The operations of each cycle are performed by actuating the handle 5| but in one case the slide or latch plate |01 is at the rearward limit of its movement while in the other, this slide is at the forward limit of its movement.

The device illustrated in Figs. 27 to 30 is identical with the one described herein with reference to the preceding gures with this exception, that it is adapted automatically to shift the slide or latch plate between its two operative positions and thus to cause the device to function alternately on one cycle and then on the other. This is accomplished in an ecient and comparatively simple manner by adding only a few parts which do not add appreciably to the cost of the device. In this embodiment a link |26 is pivotally connected to the upper arm of bell-crank 53 and is mounted to pivot about the screw 93 which also constitutes the pivot for the upper bell-crank 92. A wire spring 21 is secured to the upper end of link |26. This spring extends downwardly along the link |26 and is secured at its lower end to an extension |28 formed on or carried by the slide plate |01. The grip plate H2 employed in the previous form of the device is omitted. A knob |29 is mounted on the upper arm of bell-crank 53 preferably at the pivotal connection of this member and link 26.

The device is shown in Fig. 27 with its parts in position for the first cycle of its operation. As the handle 5| is moved upwardly the link 83 moves the bell-crank 53 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 28). This swings the link |26 clockwise and ilexes the spring |21 in a manner to cause it to tend to move the latch plate forwardly. However, the post H4 bears upon the rear end of the latch plate with suiiicient pressure to hold this plate from forward movement until the handle 5| is released and returns substantially to the position shown in Fig. 29 and at this position the spring is effective automatically to move the latch plate into the notch 64 of arm 6|, as shown in Fig. 29. 'Ihe device is now set for the second cycle of its operation.

On the next upward movement of handle 5| the upper bell-crank 92 moves the lower bellcrank 53 clockwise. This swings the link |26 to a position to flex or bow the spring |21 to the l which is mounted to pivot at |49 on arm 6|.

form shown in Fig. 30, i. e., in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 28 so that the spring now tends to move the latch plate |01 rearwardly and it accomplishes this result as soon as the handle 5| returns substantially to the position shown in Fig. 27 and the post I |4 is withdrawn from its position behind the latch plate.

While this device is entirely automatic in shifting from one cycle to the other it is also capable of manual control. As previously pointed out herein the lower bell-crank 53 is mounted with sufficient friction to remain in positions in which it is set. This action is assisted in this modification by the action of the spring |21. If the device is set for one cycle of operation and the operator desires to perform the other it is merely necessary for him to push the knob |29 between the position in which it is shown in Fig. 27 and its position in Fig. 28. This sets the device for the desired cycle of operation.

'Ihe embodiment illustrated in Figs. 31 to 33b has the same rst cycle of operation and the parts which function during this cycle may be and preferably are the same as in the devices described herein with reference to the preceding figures. However, in this last modification the specific means for uniting the strands are in the form of a knot tyer of the general type disclosed in the patent to Colman, No. 672,636 to which referenwmwygbldabtiderstanding of the principles and mode of operation of this knot tying device. As this knot tyer includes a knife which severs the strand automatically, the knife 56 and its associated parts, as shown in preceding gures of the drawings, are omitted. Since no fastening elements are used with this device the clip guiding passages and magazine may be omitted. The handle portion l2 is provided on its rear end with a cup member |30 which carries the reel post 44' and receives the casing member 42 which encloses the spool of strand material 45 and is releasably seculred to post 44 by latch 3.

As shown in Figs. 3l and 32 the tying bills |3|, |32, the knife |33 and the rotary operating shaft |34 are mounted in a cam cylinder |36 which provides a bearing for the rotary shaft and includes an internal cam |31 for operating the knife. This cylinder is provided with a reduced threaded portion |38 which extends through and is clamped against a bracket |39 by a nut |4| which has threaded engagement with the portion |38. The bracket |39 is mounted upon the frame of the device in any approved manner as by means of attaching screws |42 (Fig. 33). A small spur gear |43 is xed upon shaft |34 and meshes with a gear sector |44 carried by an arm |45, which is pivotally mounted upon the frame by a screw |46. The gear sector arm |45 extends rearwardly beyond its pivot and at its rear end it has a pivotal connection |48 with a link |41 It will be understood that this arm 6| functions as described with respect to forms of the device previously disclosed herein. Also the lower projecting end of bracket 51 has been cut away in the form of a notch 5| which diverges from hole |52 to provide a guideway for directing the strand into this hole. It will also be evident from this disclosure that the automatic shift-over mechanism of Figs. 27 to 30 may be embodiedln this form of the device if desired.

In using this device the operations of the first cycle are performed in the same manner as in the other forms of the invention previously described herein. To perform the second cycle of opera.- tions the grip plate ||2 is moved forwardly as before to connect the movable handle 5| with the arm 6|. The strands forming the. loop L" are drawn forwardly and transversely across the tying bills |3|, |32 of the knotter as illustrated in Figs. 31 and 32; these strands are also guided by the notch |5| and hole |52 which are positioned to bring adjacent portions of the strands substantially together. As the movable handle 5| is moved upwardly arm 6| also moves upwardly and causes the link |41 to move slightly, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 33, to actuate the gear sector |44 through an arc suicient to rotate gear |43 and therefore the tying bills and their associated cutter through a complete revolution. This ties the knot and severs both strands of the loop. The dot and dash lines in Fig. 33 illustrate the relative positions of the parts when the handle 5| has moved upwardly through three quarters of its stroke and the tying bills have rotated through 270. Fig. 33a is a left-hand elevation illustrating this position of the tying bills and cutter and showing the arrangement of the strands which form the knot and which are about to be severed. Fig. 33b is also a left-hand elevation but shows the parts in the positions corresponding to that illustrated in full lines in Fig. 33 in which the handle 5| has moved upwardly through its full stroke and the tying bills and cutter have made a complete revolution from the position in which they are shown in Figs. 31 and 32. It will be understood that the strands are severed as the knotter turns from the position shown in Fig. 33a to that shown in Fig- 33h. 'I'he knot is stripped from the tying bills manually. The portion of the strand which is held by the gripper bar and its loop catcher is also released during this latter portion of the stroke. Since both strands of the loop are cut by this knotter, a piece of strand material |53 (Fig. 33) is discharged by the device.

During the first three quarters of the stroke this piece |53 extended between the tying bills and the passage 96 where it was retained by the gripper bar. The term pierce is used herein and in the claims in its broad sense to include passing the needle or a strand through any portion of an article or material as well as passing a needle or strand through openings within the body of an object or piece of material or passing the needle or strand about narrow objects or pieces of material.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of opposed members, a single needle carried by one of said members, the other of said members being spaced from the needle to receive material to be ticketed, the latter member having a passage to receive the needle and the strand carried thereby, yieldable means for holding superposed pieces of material against the latter member in the path of the needle, means for effecting relative movement of said members toward and from each other for passing the needle and its strand through material and into said passage and for withdrawing the needle, retaining means for holding the strand in said passage as the needle is Withdrawn,

and uniting means operable after each withdrawal of the needle to unite portions of the strand which are then disposed between said passage and the withdrawn needle, said retaining means being releasable after operation of the uniting means.

2. The combination of opposed members, a needle carried by one of said members, the other of said `members being spaced from the needle to receive material to be ticketed, the latter member having a passage to receive the needle and the strand carried thereby, means for effecting relative movement of said members toward and from each other for passing the needle and its str-and through material and into said passage and for withdrawing the needle, means for holding the strand in said passage as the needle is withdrawn, means for uniting portions of the strand disposed between said passage and the needle, and a member disposed adjacent the uniting means, the latter member having a groove providing converging surfaces for receiving and drawing strand portions together adjacent the uniting means.

3. The combination of a needle having a iiexi ble strand threaded therein, means for effecting relative movement of material to be ticketed and the needle to cause the latter to pierce the material to carry the strand therethrough, means for uniting portions of the strand extending from opposite sides of the material, an operating member for actuating both of said means, means ef fective on operation of one of said means for rendering the operating member effective on the next actuation thereof for operating the other of said means, and selectively operable means for rendering said operating member effective for actuating either of said first-mentioned means.

4. The combination of a needle having a ilexible strand threaded therein, means for effecting relative movement of material to be ticketed and the needle to cause the latter to pierce the material to carry the strand therethrough, means for uniting portions of the strand extending from opposite sides of the material, an operating member for actuating both of said means, a shiftable member for connecting the operating member to one or the other of said means, a resilient member connected with said shiftable member, and means effective on operation of one of said means for tensioning said resilient member to cause the latter to tend to shift said shiftable member to connect the operating member with the other of said means.

5. The combination of a needle having a flexible strand threaded therein, means for effecting relative movement of material to be ticketed and the needle to cause the latter to pierce the material to carry the strand therethrough, means for uniting portions of the strand extending from opposite sides of the material, an operating member for actuating both of said means, -a shiftable member for connecting the operating member to one or the other of said means, a resilient member connected with said shiftable member, means effective on operation of one of said means for tensioning said resilient member to cause the latter to tend to shift said shiftable member to connect the operating member with the other of said means, and selectively operable means for rendering4 said operating member effective for actuating either of said first-mentioned means.

6. The combination of opposed members movable relatively toward and from each other, a needle carried by one of said members, the other of said members having a passage to receive the needle and the strand carried thereby, means for holding the strand in said passage as the needle is withdrawn, means for uniting portions of said strand disposed between said passage and said needle, operating means for effecting relative movement of said members and for actuating said strand uniting means, and selective means for rendering said operating means effective only for actuating said str-and uniting means- 7. The combination of opposed members, a needle carried by one of said members, the other of said members being spaced from the needle to receive material to be ticketed, the latter member having a passage to receive the needle and the strand carried thereby, means for effecting relative movement of said members toward and from each other for passing the needle and its strand through material and into said passage and for withdrawing the needle, means for holding the strand in said passage as the needle is withdrawn, means for uniting portions of the strand disposed between said passage and the needle, a lever for effecting relative movement of said members to insert and withdraw the needle and also for actuating said strand uniting means, and selective means for rendering said lever effective only for actuating said strand uniting means.

8. The combination of opposed members, a single needle carried by one of said members, the other of said members being spaced from the needle to receive material to be ticketed, the latter member having a passage to receive the needle and the strand carried thereby, releasable means for holding said material in the path of the needle, means for effecting relative movement of said members toward and from each other for passing the needle and its strand through material and into said passage and for withdrawing the needle, retaining means for holding the strand in said passage as the needle is withdrawn, said releasable means releasing the material as the needle is withdrawn and means for uniting portions of the strand disposed between said passage and the needle following each withdrawal of the nee-dle, whereby the material may be moved from said retaining means and needle to bring string portions into juxtaposition, and the juxtaposed string portions may be engaged with the means for uniting the same.

9. The combination of a needle having a flexible strand threaded therein, means for effecting relative movement of material to be ticketed and the needle to cause the latter to pierce the material to carry the strand therethrough, means for uniting portions of the strand disposed on opposite sides of the material, the latter means y comprising clenching mechanism, means for conducting a series of clips to the clenching mechanism, abutment means engageable with an unclenched clip for stopping the latter in position for clenching, means for directing strands to be united into an unclenched clip in said position, and means providing a passage for discharge of clenched clips, the unclenched connected clips being adapted to be advanced into position for clenching by pulling united strands to move the clip clenched thereon through said passage and to bring the next adjacent unclenched clip against said abutment means with sufficient impact to break the connection between this unclenched clip and the clip just clenched about these strands.

l0. The method of the class described which comprises conducting a series of connected unclenched clips to clenching mechanism and locating the foremost clip of the series in position for clenching by engaging only the projecting prongs of this clip to stop the latter in this position, clenching this clip about strand material and then, while preparing to stop the next clip in the same manner by engaging only the prongs thereof, pulling the strand material and the clip clenched thereon with such force that the resulting impact on the unclenched clip breaks the connection between the clenched and unclenched clips.

11. The method which comprises conducting a plurality of connected unclenched clips to a clenching station, stopping the foremost unclenched clip in position for clenching by engaging at least one of the projecting prongs thereof, clenching this clip and removing it from the clenching station with such force that the connection between this clip and the adjacent unclenched clip is broken substantially as the latter clip is stopped in position for clenching.

12. The method which comprises conducting a plurality of connected unclenched clips to a clenching station, clenching the foremost clip about a strand, removing this clenched clip from the clenching station by pulling the strand to advance the adjacent unclenched clip into position for clenching, stopping the latter clip in this position and pulling on the strand to break the connection between the clenched and unclenched clips.

13. The method which comprises conducting a plurality of connected unclenched clips to a clenching station, clenching the foremost clip about a strand, removing this clenched clip from the clenching station by pulling the strand to advance the adjacent unclenched clip into position for clenching at the clenching station, stopping the latter clip in this position and exerting a pulling force on the clenched clip to break the connection between the latter clip and the unclenched clip.

14. The method which comprises conducting a plurality of connected unclenched clips' to a clenching station, clenching the foremost clip about a strand, advancing the clips to remove the clenched clip from the clenching station and to bring an unclenched clip into this station, stopping the latter clip in this station and exerting a pulling force on the clenched clip to break the connection between the latter and the clip to be clenched.

15. The method which comprises conducting a plurality of connected unclenched clips to a clenching station with the endmost clip disposed in said station, clenching the endmost clip about a strand, advancing the clips to remove the clenched clip from the clenching station and to bring an unclenched clip into this station, stopping the latter clip in this station by engaging at least one of the projecting prongs thereof, and while so engaging at least one of said prongs exerting a pulling force on the clenched clip to break the connection between the latter clip and the clip to be clenched.

16. A machine of the class described, comprising a single needle having a strand guiding portion, a member providing a passage to receive the needle, means to eiTect relative movement of the needle and said member toward and away from each other so that the needle may insert a strand end into the passage, retaining means actuable to grip the strand end and eiective to hold the same as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member eiective to hold material over the passage for penetration by the needle as the needle is received by the passage, said presser member being releasable upon each withdrawal of the needle to permit the material to be drawn away from the needle and the strand to be drawn through said strand guiding portion and through the material until two strand sections are juxtaposed beyond the edge of the material, and uniting means engageable by said strand sections, said means being operable to join said juxtaposed sections while the needle remains withdrawn from the passage and spaced from the uniting means, the retaining means thereupon being releasable.

17. A machine of the class described,. comprising a single needle having a strand guiding portion, a member providing a passage to receive the needle, means to effect relative movement of the needle and said member toward and away from each other so that the needle may in sert a strand end into the passage, retaining means actuable to grip the strand end and effective to hold the same against the side of the passage as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member effective to hold material over the passage for penetration bythe needle as the needle is received by the passage, said presser member being releasable upon each withdrawal of the needle to permit the material to be drawn away from the needle and the strand to be drawn through said guiding portion and through the material until two strand sections are juxtaposed beyond the edge of the material, and uniting means carried by said member adjoining said passage and being engageable by said strand sections, said `means being operable to join the juxtaposed strand sections While the needle remains withdrawn from the passage and spaced from the uniting means, the retaining means thereupon being releasable, and a cutter effective to cut the strand portion extending from the needle.

18. A machine of the class described, comprising a single needle having a strand guiding portion, a member providing a passage to receive the needle, means to eiTect relative movement of the needle and said member toward and away from each other so that the needle may insert a strand end into the passage, retaining means actuable to grip the strand end and effective to hold the same as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member effective to hold material over the passage for penetration by the needle as the needle is received by the passage, said presser member being releasable upon each withdrawal of the needle to permit the material to be drawn away from the needle and the strand to be drawn through said strand guiding portion and through the material until two strand sections are juxtaposed beyond the edge of the material, and uniting means engageable by said strand sections, said means being operable to join said juxtaposed sections While the needle remains withdrawn from the passage and spaced from the uniting means, the retaining means thereupon being releasable, the means which effects relative movement of said member and needle being again actuable to operate said uniting means.

19. A machine of the class described, comprising a needle having a strand guiding portion, a member providing a passage to receive the needle, means to effect relative movement of the needle and said member toward and away from each other so that the needle may insert a strand end into the passage, retaining means actuable to grip the strand end and effective to hold the same as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member effective to hold material over the passage for penetration by the needle asl the needle is received by the passage, said presser member being releasable as the needle and member move away from each other to permit the material to be drawn away from the needle and the strand to be drawn through said strand guiding portion and through the material until two strand sections are juxtaposed beyond the edge of the material, uniting means engageable by said strand sections, said means being operable upon each withdrawal of the needle to join said juxtaposed sections, the retaining means thereupon being releasable, and means to feed a series of clips to said uniting means, said last-named means being eiective to clench a clip about the juxtaposed strand sections.

20. A machine of the class described, comprising a needle having a strand guiding portion, a member providing a passage to receive the needle, means to eilect relative movement of the needle and said member toward and away from each other so that the needle may insert a strand end into the passage, retaining means actuable to grip the strand end and eifective to hold the same as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member effective to hold material over the passage for penetration by the needle as the needle is received by the passage, said presser member being releasable as the needle and member move away from each other to permit the material to be drawn away from the needle and the strand to be drawn through said strand guiding portion and through the material until two strand sections are juxtaposed beyond the edge of the material, uniting means engageable by said strand sections, said means being operable to join said juxtaposed sections, the retaining means thereupon being releasable, and means to feed a series of clips to said uniting means, said last-named means including an abutment having an opening arranged to stop the rst clip of the series, said means also providing jaws movable to clench the first clip about the juxtaposed strands, the opening permitting a clenched clip to pass therethrough whereby the succeeding clip may be drawn into engagement with said abutment.

21. A machine of the class described, comprising a needle having a strand guiding portion, a member providing a passage to receive the needle, means to effect relative movement of the needle and said member toward and away from each other so that the needle may insert a strand end into the passage, retaining means actuable to grip the strand end and effective to hold the same as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member effective to hold material over the passage for penetration by the needle as the needle is received by the passage, said presser member being releasable as the needle and member move away from each other to permit the material to be drawn away from the needle and the strand to be drawn through said strand guiding portion and through the material until two strand sections are juxtaposed beyond the edge of the material, uniting means engageable by said strand sections, said means being operable to join said juxtaposed sections, the retaining means thereupon being releasable, and means to feed a series of clips to said uniting means, said lastnamed means including an abutment having an opening arranged to stop the first clip of the series, said means also providing jaws movable to clench the rst clip about the juxtaposed strands, the opening permitting a clenched clip to pass therethrough whereby the succeeding clip may be drawn into engagement with said abutment, said member providing a recess with converging sides to receive the juxtaposed strands and guide them to the opening in the abutment member and between the jaws whereby they may be gripped by the clenched clip.

22. A manually operable device of the class described comprising a frame, a handle extending therefrom, a second handle pivoted to the frame, linkage connected to the second handle, a needle supported by the frame and movable relative thereto, said needle having a strand guiding passage, said linkage being eiective in causing relative movement of the needle and frame, said frame providing a passage to receive the needle and the free end of a strand carried thereby, retaining means eoncomitantly actuable to grip the strand end and to hold the same in the passage as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member movable concomitantly with the needle to press material against a part of the frame and hold the same in the path of the needle as the same advances towards the passage so that the strand is passed through the material, said presser member being releasable as the needle is withdrawn from the material so that the material may be pulled away from the frame to cause the strand to slide through the passage in the needle and through said material until two strand sections are brought into juxtaposition beyond the edge of the material, and means carried by the frame to unite such juxtaposed strand ends, said means being actuable by a portion of said linkage in response to a second relative movement of said handles.

23. A manually operable device of the class described comprising a frame, a handle extending therefrom, a second handle pivoted to the frame, linkage connected to the second handle, a needle supported by the frame and movable relative thereto, said needle having a strand guiding passage, said linkage being erfective in causing relative movement of the needle and frame, said frame providing a passage to receive the needle and the free end of a strand carried thereby, retaining means concomitantly actuable to grip the strand end and to hold the same in the passage as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member movable concomitantly with the needle to press material against a part of the frame and hold the same in the path of the needle as the same advances towards the passage so that the strand is passed through the material, said presser member being releasable as the needle is withdrawn from the material so that the material may be pulled away from the frame to cause the strand to slide through the passage in the needle and through said material until two strand sections are brought into juxtaposition beyond the edge of the material, a uniting means supported on said frame and arranged to receive successive clips, said frame providing a recess to guide the juxtaposed strands into engagement with the first clip of the series, said uniting means being effective in clenching such a grip about the juxtaposed strands.

24. A manually operable device of the class described comprising a frame, a handle extending therefrom, a second handle pivoted to the frame, linkage connected to the second handle, a needle supported by the frame and movable relative thereto, said needle having a strand guiding passage, said linkage being effective in causing relative movement of the needle and frame, said frame providing a passage to receive the needle 75 and the free end of a strand carried thereby, retaining means concomitantly actuable to grip the strand end and to hold the same in the passage as the needle is withdrawn from the passage, a presser member movable concomitantly with the needle to press material against a part of the frame and hold the same in the path of the needle as the same advances towards the passage so that the strand is passed through the material, said presser member being releasable as the needle is withdrawn from the material so that the material may be pulled away from the frame to cause the strand to slide through the passage in the needle and through said material until two strand sections are brought into juxtaposition b-eyond the edge of the material, a reel pivotally connected to the first-named handle and arranged to support windings consisting of a paper strip with juxtaposed metal clips, guide means associated with said handle to receive a run of the paper strip with clips thereon, and a uniting means mounted on said frame and arranged to receive the rst clip from said run, said uniting means including relatively movable jaws to clench a clip about the juxtaposed strands and providing an opening through which the strands and the clenched clip may be drawn so that a succeeding clip may be positioned between the jaws.

25. The combination of opposed members, a single needle carried by one of said members, the other of said members being spaced from the needle to receive material to be ticketed, the latter member having a passage to receive the needle and the strand carried thereby, yieldable means for holding superposed pieces of material against the latter member in the path of the needle, means for effecting relative movement of said members toward and from each other for passing the needle and its strand through the material and into said passage and for withdrawing the needle, retaining means for holding the strand in said passage as the needle is withdrawn, means operable while the needle remains in withdrawn position and following each withdrawal of the needle for uniting portions of the strand disposed between said passage and the needle, said retaining means being releasable after operation of said uniting means, and a cutter operable to sever the strand section extending from the uniting means to the needle, said cutter being operable as the retaining means is released.

26. A hand device of the class described comprising a frame, a needle supported by the frame and having a strand receiving passage so that a strand threaded through the passage may have an end projecting from the needle, the frame providing a recess with converging sides, a clip feeding mechanism mounted on said frame for feeding an open clip to the inner part of said recess, so that, when the needle is advanced through sheet material, the strand end may be gripped and the material may manually be drawn away from the needle and the gripped end to bring strand sections extending from opposite sides of the material into juxtaposition in the open clip, clenching mechanism carried by said frame for closing the clip, a cutter movably mounted on said frame and operable to sever the strand between the clip and the needle so that a strand end is left projecting from the needle to be passed through another piece of sheet material, and a movable handle connected to the frame, the clenching mechanism and cutter being operably connected to the handle for concomitant operation by a single movement of the handle.

27. A hand device of the class described comprising a frame, a needle on said frame, said needle being movable to advanced and retracted positions and having a strand-receiving passage, a clip supplying mechanism carried by said frame, said frame providing a recess having converging walls, means to hold an open clip in a position to receive juxtaposed strand sections when the latter are guided into the clip by said converging walls, a movable handle, -clenching mechanism on said frame for closing the clip on the strand sections, a cutter on said frame, said mechanism and cutter both being operably connected to the handle for actuation in response to a single movement of the handle, said needle being arranged so that it may penetrate and carry a strand end through a sheet article so that the strand end may then be gripped, Whereupon the needle may be retracted from the material and the material may be manually moved away from the gripped end and the needle to bring two strand sections into juxtaposition, said sections being manually movable into the open clip, the handle then being operated to clench the clip and sever the strand section between the clip and needle to leave a strand end projecting from the needle for advance movement through another sheet article.

28. A hand device of the class described comprising a frame, a needle on said frame, said needle being movable to advanced and retracted positions and having a strand-receiving passage, means on the frame to supply a strand for movement through said passage, a clip supplying mechanism carried by said frame, the end of the frame providing a recess having converging walls and means to hold an open clip in a position to receive juxtaposed strand sections when the latter are guided into the clip by said converging walls, means on the frame to supply successive open clips to said position, a movable handle, clenching mechanism on said frame for closing the clip on the strand sections, a cutter movably mounted on the frame substantially between the recess and the retracted needle, said mechanism and cutter both being operably connected to saidl handle and being actuable in response to a single movement of the handle, said needle being arranged so that it may penetrate and carry a strand end through a sheet article so that the strand end may then be gripped, whereupon the needle may be retracted from the material and the material may be manually moved away from the gripped end and the needle to bring two strand sections into juxtaposition, said sections then being manually movable into the open clip, the handle then being operated to clench the clip and sever the strand section between the clip and needle to leave a strand end projecting from the needle for advance movement through another sheet article.

CARL A. FLOOD. 

